Early Hawaiians made a yellow dye from the inner bark and the fruits were used to make a dark purple or black dye.

The leaves flowers and black fruits were also strung on lei.

The genus name Coprosma means "smelling like dung." By coincidence, the Hawaiian name k?kaen?n? literally means "n?n? dung." This refers not to the smell but to the dung-like appearance of the dark fruits, which do in fact resemble n?n? droppings (k?kae). Nevertheless, n?n? (Branta sandvicensis), or Hawaiian goose, do eat the fruits as part of their natural diet. So then, one might say that when k?kaen?n? is eaten by n?n? and they deposit their k?kae, k?kaen?n? is spread throughout the n?n? habitat!

Intrestingly, another name for Coprosma ernodeoides is ?aiakan?n?, literally meaning "food of the n?n?."

Duration:
Perennial

Plant Family:
Rubiaceae

Growth Habit:
Shrub

Please
sign in
to add a photo or suggest additions or corrections to this record."